Batting tee

Abstract

A batting tee and/or hitting training device is provided that includes a platform, a support extending upwardly from the platform and a holder disposed on the support opposite the platform for holding the ball to be hit. The holder includes a lower tubular member and an upper ball-retaining portion that are integrally formed with one another.

Claims

1. A hitting training device comprising: a) a vertical support; b) a holder secured to the support, the holder including a lower tubular member and an upper ball-holding portion integrally formed with one another, wherein the holder comprises a narrow section connecting the lower tubular member and the upper ball-holding portion, wherein the lower tubular member is formed as a solid cylinder, wherein the narrow section is formed as a solid cylinder, wherein the upper ball-holding portion is formed as a solid cone; and wherein the vertical support consists of an upper hollow section that receives the lower tubular member and a lower solid section formed together as a single tubular piece.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the holder is formed of a rubber.

3. The device of claim 1, comprising a platform operably connected to the lower solid section.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the platform comprises a shaft extending outwardly therefrom and engageable with the lower solid section.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the lower solid section includes a bore in which the shaft is releasably positioned.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the shaft is releasably connected to the platform.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the lower tubular member has an outer diameter less than an inner diameter of the upper hollow portion.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the lower tubular member is telescopically engaged with the upper hollow section.

9. A method for training a swing path, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing the hitting training device of claim 1; and b) positioning the holder relative to the vertical support to provide a desired height for the desired hitting device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The drawings illustrate the best mode of practicing the present disclosure.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 is a partially exploded, isometric view of a batting tee according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

(4) FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the batting tee of FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(6) With reference now to the drawing figures in which like reference numbers represent like features throughout the application, one exemplary embodiment of a batting tee or device constructed according to the present disclosure is indicated generally at 10 in FIG. 1. The device 10 includes a platform 12 that is adapted to be disposed on a surface, such as the ground, a support 14 extending vertically upwardly from the platform 12 and a holder 16 located on the support 14 opposite the platform 12. The members 12, 14, 16 are formed of any suitable material and in an exemplary embodiment are formed of a plastic and/or rubber material that provides sufficient flexibility and strength and weight to the device 10.

(7) As shown in the exemplary illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the platform 12 can be formed of a generally flat member 18 that is shaped to resemble a base or other structure, and has sufficient area to provide a stable base for the device 10 when in use. The platform 12 includes a flat lower surface 40, optionally including recesses (not shown), that is positioned on the ground or other support surface. The platform 12 also includes an upper surface 42. The platform 12 has a sufficient size/area and weight to prevent inadvertent tipping of the device 10, even while in use. To assist in providing this stability for the device 10, the platform 12 can be formed of a rubber material that enables the platform 12 to have sufficient weight to prevent the platform 12 from readily being flipped or moved off of the ground/support surface.

(8) The support 14 can be formed as desired, and in the illustrated exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 formed from a tubular member 20. The tubular member 20 is formed from a material capable of providing a semi-rigid nature to the tubular member 20, while also providing additional weight to the platform 12 to prevent tipping of the device 10 when in use, such as a rubber material. Tubular member 20 can be formed as a hollow tube, as a solid cylindrical member, or a combination thereof, such as with an upper hollow section 50 and a lower solid section 52. The tubular member 20 is attached to the platform 12 at one end, such as by a bolt or shall 21 inserted through an engaged with the platform 12 around an aperture 23 extending through the platform 12 and into engagement with a bore 25 formed in the lower solid section 52 of the tubular member 20. The bolt/shaft 21 can also be formed as a part of the platform 12, negating the need for the aperture 23. The shaft 21 is secured within the bore 25 in any suitable manner, such as by engaging a fastener (not shown) disposed within the bore 25, or by other mechanical means, such as a friction fit between the exterior of the shaft 21 and the interior of the bore 25, which are sized to have closely similar diameters to provide the friction fit. In one exemplary embodiment, the lengths of the shaft 21 and the bore 25 are such that the bore 25 can only be displaced vertically with regard to the shaft 21 to assist in holding the support 14 vertically on the platform 12.

(9) Referring now to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the holder 16 is formed with a lower tubular member 22. The lower tubular member 22 is formed of a material similar to that used for the support 14, e.g., a rubber material, and has an exterior diameter less than that of the interior of the upper hollow section 50 of the tubular member 20, such that lower tubular member 22 can be slid telescopically relative to tubular member 20. The exterior diameter of the lower tubular member 22 allows the lower tubular member 22 to move with regard to the interior of the tubular member 20 while also contacting the interior of the upper hollow section 50 to provide the friction fit sufficient to retain the lower tubular member 22 in the desired position relative to the upper hollow section 50. With this construction it is possible to extend the support holder 16 from a collapsed or storage position, where a majority of lower tubular member 22 is disposed within the upper hollow section 50 of the tubular member 20, to an extended or use position where a majority of lower tubular member 22 is positioned outside of above the upper hollow section 50 of the tubular member 20. Alternatively, the upper hollow section 50 can be formed with a length sufficient to retain the lower tubular member 22 in a single position or height relative to the tubular member 20, further simplifying the construction of the device 10.

(10) Opposite the lower tubular member 22, the holder 16 includes an upper ball-holding portion 26 including a flexible cone or cup-shaped receptacle 28 extending away from the lower tubular member 22. The cup-shaped receptacle 28 has a width and depth sufficient to receive and retain at least portion of a ball 30 therein, such as a baseball 32, in order to retain the ball 30 in a stable stationary position within the receptacle 28.

(11) The upper portion 26 is formed integrally with the lower tubular member 22 of the holder 16, such as in a suitable molding process, with a narrowed section 34 connecting the upper portion 26 and the tubular member 22 to one another, and without any other connection between the lower tubular member 22 and the upper portion 26. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the lower tubular member 22 and the narrowed section 34 are formed as solid cylinders of the semi-rigid material, e.g., the rubber, while the upper portion 26 is formed as a hollow cone. The solid material forming the lower tubular member 22 and the narrowed section 34 enable the lower tubular member 22 and the narrowed section to withstand a large amount of force, such as from a bat swung at the device 10. The narrowed section 34 also enables the upper portion 26 to flex or move with respect to the lower tubular member 22 when the upper portion 26 is struck, such as by a bat (not shown), to reduce damage to the upper portion 26 during use of the batting tee 10. Additionally, the solid lower tubular member 22 can be easily manipulated to engage the holder 16 with the upper hollow section 50 to the desired position.

(12) Various other alternatives are contemplated is being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.